Posted: December 13, 2004

Triathlon: Sharon Donnelly Retires

Sharon Donnelly, 3 time Canadian Champion, 1999 Pan American Games Champion, Sydney Olympian, 2002 Commonwealth Games Team Member ( 5th place), and 8th place finisher in the 2002 Worlds.

Sharon Donnelly announced this week her retirement from the Canadian National Elite Triathlon Team. Sharon has been on the Senior National Team since 1997 and won the gold medal at the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg. Sharon represented Canada at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, AUS and many Triathlon World Championships.

Sharon ws recently elected as the Athlete Representative for Triathlon Canada. She will be replacing outgoing Athlete Representative Isabelle Turcotte Baird, who was elected a Director on the Triathlon Canada Board of Directors. Triathlon Canada wishes Sharon Donnelly all the best in her retirement and welcomes Sharon to the Board of Directors.

Sharon's Retirement Letter:

Announcement:

Retirement from Olympic/World Cup Triathlon Program - SHARON DONNELLY

It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement from the Olympic and World Cup program of Triathlon Canada. I say mixed, because I leave behind a unique, exciting and challenging way of life - that of an elite athlete, racing and training full time around the world. But I am also excited about the many opportunities ahead of me.

The most memorable things for me during my career were:

· The wonderful friendships that I developed world-wide
· Winning gold at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada
· Being an Olympian
· Motivating others in so many different venues and events
· Representing Canada and the sport of triathlon at home and abroad for over 9 years on the National Elite Team
· Working and training with great international coaches and athletes
· Becoming a professional not only as an athlete but also in: sponsorship & media relations, budget travel arrangements, quickly adapting to other environments and cultures, and as positive spokesperson for our sport and for Canada.
· My first World Cup in Ishigaki Japan 1996 as a full-time triathlete. I knew then I had made the right decision to follow my childhood Olympic dreams
· Being a part of the huge growth in triathlon due to the inclusion of triathlon into the Olympic Games

I had hoped to compete through to the 2006 Commonwealth Games, but after the past two years of dealing with a series of injuries (which included a torn calf muscle in 2003 and a torn shoulder tendon that required surgery in Feb 2005), I just did not want to continue to push my body to perform at World Cup competitions.

I felt that by making a clear statement about my departure from the World Cup program, it might help the other female triathletes to better define their performance objectives in relation to the National Team. I can best describe it as passing the torch to the next generation with all of the knowledge and experience that I have gained.

To me this sport is a lifestyle for all ages and levels, so I will continue competing, and shift more energy towards coaching and coaching certification. I am passionate about this sport and I will continue to be involved as an athlete, a coach, and in the organization of Triathlon Canada.

I want to thank everyone who has been a part of my great journey: family, friends, sponsors, Triathlon Canada and the International Triathlon Union. You have formed a team that made it possible for me to achieve success. I look forward to continuing with such a great supportive team as I begin a new career in what I could best describe as "Sports Consultant."

Sharon